Alex is on track for rail role

Janet Hall

A managing director has been appointed for the new Northern rail franchise.

Alex Hynes takes up the role with Arriva Rail North Ltd on April 1, when Arriva begins operating the contract.

Mr Hynes has held a variety of senior roles within the rail industry. He joined Go-Ahead in 2005 before becoming commercial director at its London Midland franchise and then managing director – rail development on Go Ahead’s executive committee. He has been managing director of Northern since 2013.

He will lead Northern’s 5,500 employees and deliver Arriva’s plans to transform rail travel with an investment programme promising new and refurbished trains, extra services, increased capacity and station and ticketing improvements.

He said: “Arriva has committed to a multi-million-pound investment programme for Northern so I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue to lead the business and the fantastic team we have built.

“Arriva brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Northern through its successes here in the UK and across mainland Europe. To be part of that, and the plans to vastly improve services, capacity and stations for customers, is hugely exciting for me.”